A 30-0 first half lead helped ten-man Saints pick up a 36-12 victory over Castleford Tigers at the BrewDog Stadium!
First Half
Saints had the lead four minutes in. Castleford attempted to shift the ball to their right edge, Tom Weaver attempted a cut-out pass which Jack Welsby intercepted and ran half the length of the field to score. Jackson Hastings added the extras, 6-0 we led.
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The hosts had a second try four minutes later. Shane Wright collected the ball just inside the Tigers forty, threw a dummy and breezed past Phoenix Laulu Togaga’e to score. Hastings again added the conversion, 12-0.
A third try nearly followed. Hastings kicked high to the right edge, Nene Macdonald patted the ball down for Wright to score. Referee Tom Grant ruled the pass had gone forward though so it remained 12-0.
Try number three did follow quickly after that chance though. Welsby was caught high after a one-two with Jake Davies. Saints then forced an error which have us a scrum, went right and Harry Robertson found Jacob Douglas on the overlap to score. Hastings added the conversion, 18-0.
From the kick off, Saints had another try. Welsby did well to wriggle through a gap down the left edge and break, he found Tom Humphreys in support on his inside who raced forty metres unopposed to score. Hastings added another two points, 24-0.
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A fifth try followed before the break. Robertson got the ball from Welsby inside his own half, stepped past a Tigers defender and found Tristan Sailor in support who raced forty metres to score under the sticks. Hastings converted again, 30-0.
In the final minute before the break, both teams were reduced to twelve men. Hastings saw red and Tyler Dupree a yellow after a scuffle between the two players.
⏸️ The Saints have a good lead, but will be down to 12 men in the second half.#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/K5yU4NRhzD
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 22, 2026
Second Half
Twelve-man Saints opened the point scoring in the second half too After applying pressure for the opening eight minutes of the half, Robertson tried a kick to the right corner and Macdonald won the race to the loose ball to score. Sailor took over the kicking duties and added the conversion, 36-0.
The visitors had their first points in the 53rd minute. After a spell of pressure, Daejarn Asi threw a pass that looked to have sailed forward to Louis Senior on the wing and he scored in the corner. Ben McNamara added the conversion, 36-6.
Just after the hour-mark, Saints threatened again. Humphreys made a big break downfield, finding Sailor in support who was dragged down. On the last, Welsby found Daniel Suluka-Fifita but he was held up inches short of the line.
Castleford had a second try the following set. Weaver broke and found Dupree in support with another forward looking pass and found Laulu Togage’e who broke some tackles to score. McNamara converted, 36-12.
With just over five minutes to go we had our first visit to the video referee of the afternoon. Weaver threw a cut-out pass to Mikaele Ravalawa on their right wing, who tried to burrow his way over from close range. The Tigers man was held up short of the line but the visitors had a penalty for a high shot.
One minute later, Saints were reduced to eleven men. Successive Castleford penalties on our line saw Alex Walmsley sin binned. From that penalty, the visitors shifted the ball left but Robertson did brilliantly to put Senior into touch just short of the try-line.
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George Lawler then broke through the middle of the Saints defence, but Robertson and Sailor combined well to force a knock on.
Chris Matagi was then shown a yellow card with what should’ve been the last kick of the game for a late hit on the kicker.
No further points followed, as Saints finished the game with ten men but beat the Castleford Tigers 36-12 at the BrewDog Stadium!
😤 A battling, hard-fought win for the Saints over Castleford Tigers#COYS | @LPL_Airport pic.twitter.com/ZAPL0JP02a
— St.Helens R.F.C. (@Saints1890) August 22, 2026
Match Summary
Saints Team: Tristan Sailor, Jacob Douglas, Nene Macdonald, Jack Welsby, Deon Cross, Harry Robertson, Jackson Hastings, Alex Walmsley, Joe Shorrocks, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Shane Wright, Jake Davies, Jacob Host.
Interchanges: Tom Humphreys, Billy Keeley, Matty Evans, Chris Matagi.
18th Man: Cole Marsh.
Tries: Jack Welsby (4), Shane Wright (8), Jacob Douglas (22), Tom Humphreys (25), Tristan Sailor (38), Nene Macdonald (48)
Conversions: Jackson Hastings (5 from 5), Tristan Sailor (1 from 1)
Yellow Card: Alex Walmsley (76), Chris Matagi (80)
Red Card: Jackson Hastings (40)
Castleford Tigers Team: Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, Mikaele Ravalawa, Alex Mellor, Keenan Brand, Louis Senior, Daejarn Asi, Tom Weaver, Renouf Atoni, Liam Hood, George Lawler, Jordan Lane, George Hirst, Joe Stimson.
Interchanges: Tyler Dupree, Jack Brown, Lazarus Vaalepu, Ben McNamara.
18th Man: Cain Robb.
Tries: Louis Senior (53), Phoenix Laulu Togaga’e (64)
Conversions: Ben McNamara (2 from 2)
Yellow Card: Tyler Dupree (40)
HT: 30-0
FT: 36-12
Attendance: 10,188
Full Teamsheet:
HT Draw Number: No.22831 – £528
